ABSTRACT
The different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from adults aged over 64 years in the Valencia and Castellon health region of Spain from June 1999 to December 2003 were analyzed. A total of 163 strains were evaluated; 58.3% were invasive, 47.24% were from respiratory source, and 4.9% were from exudates. The greatest percentage of samples was obtained from the group of patients aged 65 to 75 years (60.7%), while the lowest percentage was obtained from the group of patients aged over 85 years (10.4%). In the latter group, 53% of the strains were invasive and 29.4% were isolated from sputum. A total of 21 serotypes were identified, with the most common (> 3%) being: serotype 3 (22.1%); serotype 19 (12.9%); serotype 6 (12.3%); serotype 9 (8.6%); serotype 14 (10.4%); serotype 23 (8%); serotype 29 (3.7%); and serotype 18 (3.1%). Serotype 3 was the most common serotype found in all samples, with the exception of exudate, while serotype 23 was not isolated in blood. In this population group, the coverage of the 23-valent vaccine was 88.4%. Serotypes not included in this vaccine but isolated from invasive samples were serotypes 16, 24, 29 and 35. No changes were observed in serotype distribution over the 4-year period of the study. However, it is necessary to continue epidemiological monitoring to determine whether serotype substitution occurs.
Subject(s)
Pneumococcal Infections/epidemiology , Pneumococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Streptococcus pneumoniae/classification , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Pneumococcal Infections/microbiology , Pneumococcal Infections/prevention & control , Serotyping , Spain/epidemiology , Vaccination/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Se ha realizado un estudio para conocer los serotipos, la cobertura de la vacuna conjugada heptavalente (VCN 7-v) y la sensibilidad a los antibióticos de Streptococcus pneumoniae aislados en niños (<15 años) del área sanitaria de las provincias de Castellón y Valencia desde junio de 1999 hasta diciembre de 2002. En total se evaluaron 271 cepas, de las cuales el 15,5 por ciento fueron invasoras, el 63,5 por ciento de origen respiratorio y el 22,5 por ciento de exudados conjuntivales y óticos. El 67,2 por ciento de las cepas pertenecían a niños menores de 2 años. La distribución de los serotipos cambia ligeramente con la edad y el origen de la muestra; los más frecuentes fueron 19, 6, 23, 14, 3, 9 y 11, pero en los niños menores de 2 años el orden cambia a 19, 6, 14 y 23, 9, 11 y 3, y en las cepas invasoras es 19, 6, 14, 3 y 23. El 27,2 por ciento de las cepas fueron sensibles a los diez antibióticos probados. Frente a la penicilina, el 50,4 por ciento tuvieron sensibilidad disminuida y el 5,8 por ciento fueron altamente resistentes; el 98,3 por ciento fueron sensibles a la ampicilina y a amoxicilina-ácido clavulánico, y el 80,7 por ciento a la cefuroxima. El 52,5 por ciento fueron resistentes a la eritromicina y el 43,7 por ciento a la clindamicina. Ninguna cepa fue resistente a la rifampicina, la vancomicina, el levofloxacino ni la cefotaxima. Los serotipos más sensibles fueron el 3 y el 11, y los más resistentes el 14 (que siempre fue resistente a un antibiótico), 19, 6 y 23.Según los datos, la cobertura teórica de la VCN 7-v sería del 80,1 por ciento en los niños menores de 2 años y del 73,43 por ciento en los de 0 a 14 años (AU)
Subject(s)
Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Humans , Spain , Prospective Studies , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Serotyping , Microbial Sensitivity TestsABSTRACT
A study was conducted to determine the serotypes, the coverage of the heptavalent conjugate vaccine (VCN 7-v) and the antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children (<15 years) in the health districts of the provinces of Castellon and Valencia, Spain, from June 1999 to December 2002. A total of 271 strains were evaluated, 15.5% of which were invasive, 63.5% were of respiratory origin and 22.5% were from conjunctival and otitic exudates; 67.2% of the strains were found in children younger than 2 years of age. The distribution of the serotypes showed slight changes according to age and the origin of the sample: the most common serotypes were 19, 6, 23, 14, 3, 9 and 11; however, in children younger than 2 years of age the order changed to 19, 6, 14 and 23, 9, 11 and 3, and in the invasive strains to 19, 6, 14, 3 and 23. A total of 27.2% of the stains were susceptible to the ten antibiotics tested. For penicillin, reduced susceptibility was found in 50.4% and high resistance in 5.8%; 98.3% were susceptible to ampicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and 80.7% to cefuroxime; 52.5% were resistant to erythromycin and 43.7% to clindamycin. No strains were resistant to rifampicin, vancomycin, levofloxacin or cefotaxime. The most susceptible serotypes were 3 and 11, and the most resistant was 14 (which consistently showed resistance to an antibiotic), 19, 6 and 23. According to these data, the theoretical coverage of VCN 7-v would be 80.1% in children younger than 2 years and 73.43% in those aged 0-14 years.
Subject(s)
Streptococcus pneumoniae/classification , Streptococcus pneumoniae/drug effects , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Prospective Studies , Serotyping , SpainABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: People born between 1978 and 1982 were the most affected by measles in the outbreaks occurring in the Valencian Community (Spain) in 1993. This age group has not been systematically immunized against measles and has not suffered the last large measles epidemics. HYPOTHESIS: global seroprevalence against measles in this age group is inadequate to prevent new outbreaks. METHODS: Prospective seroepidemiologic study in a sample of school-attending children, born between 1978 and 1982. Randomized sampling of all classrooms 5th to 8th grade high school of a Health Area; stratification depending on the population of the village (< 5,000, 5,001-20,000, > 20,000 inhabitants). Antecedents of measles immunization and the disease were collected. Measles IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme immunoassay, antibody titers 1:80 or higher were considered protective. RESULTS: Sample of 410 subjects, belonging to 17 classes. Measles antibody prevalence was 80.2% (95% CI: 76.6-83.8%), and was higher in less populated villages (p < 0.03). Immunization status was known in 253 subjects (61.7%). Protective titers were present in 86.1% of the vaccinated and in 68.1% of the non vaccinated (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a large percentage of subjects born between 1978 and 1982 unprotected against measles. Elimination of the disease will not be able unless an extraordinary vaccination campaign to include these subjects is taken.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Measles virus/immunology , Measles/epidemiology , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , Urban Population/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Confidence Intervals , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Male , Measles/immunology , Measles/prevention & control , Measles Vaccine/immunology , Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The prevalence of IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori was determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 80 families who lived together with 40 duodenal ulcer patients in whom Helicobacter pylori had been cultured from a gastric biopsy (34 spouses, 31 children, 10 parents, 4 sisters and 1 brother) and in 112 controls from the same habitat and with similar age. The antibodies were positive in 38.4% of the relatives and in 36.6% of the controls, the difference was not significant. Among spouses of patients, 38.4% of those aged 25-39 years and 66.6% of those aged 40-67 years were positive, whereas controls showed a 29.2% and a 58.3% of positives respectively. The differences between both groups were not significant. Among children, 17.2% were positive and in parents 50%, whereas among controls with a similar age 26.3% and 62.5% respectively were positive. The differences between relatives and controls were not significant. We conclude that in our environment among consanguineous families living together and between spouses, person-to-person spread of Helicobacter pylori does not usually occur or it happens uncommonly.
Subject(s)
Duodenal Ulcer/microbiology , Family Health , Helicobacter Infections/transmission , Helicobacter pylori , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Case-Control Studies , Duodenal Ulcer/complications , Female , Helicobacter Infections/complications , Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology , Helicobacter pylori/immunology , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
The present work prospectively analyzes, in a multicentric study, viral pneumonias acquired in the community during one year. Were studied 510 patients diagnosed of pneumonia in hospital, or whom 62 (12.1%) had a viral origin. Influenza virus A and B were the most common causative agents (47.6% and 20.6% respectively). Smoking habit was present in 44% of patients, previous OCFA in 45% and other previous pathology in 64.4%. The greatest number of registered cases was during December. The most frequent radiologic finding was alveolar pattern. Evolution in general, was favourable with a low mortality rate (one case).
